Ethno-ecotourism: a sustainable development tool to construct governance with the Wayuu people in La Guajira, Colombia

Abstract

Sustainable develomment has become a mayor issue for coastal communities in developing countries where governments face great challenges to cope with environmental, economic and social changes. This thesis presents a case stydy located in La Guajira, Colombia, where ethno-ecotourism among other forms of tourism, have emerged as a sustainable development tool to alleviate environmental, social and economic problems. However, some actions should be taken before expecting any positive change through tourism. The lack of governance has caused that the indigenous local community loose hope in participatory processes and institutions. In this sense, more research is needed in order to empower the Wayuu indigenous people of their own sustainable development.